Philippines moves to protect endangered ducks

Sep 6, 2011, 8:40 GMT

Manila - The Philippines has declared a 27-hectare wetland area in an eastern province a sanctuary for the fast-diminishing native wild duck population, an environment official said Tuesday.

The order bans hunting and building in the Cabusao Wetland in Camarines Sur province, 255 kilometres south-east of Manila, said Ramon Paje, secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

'This order is to protect the Philippine Duck which can only be found in the Philippines,' Paje said. 'It will hopefully give this unique bird a chance to live and propagate in a place free from exploitation and destruction caused by high-impact human activities.'

Hunting and development, which represent the greatest threats to the vulnerable species, were previously allowed but regulated in the wetland, a critical habitat for the Philippine Duck.

Under the order, local government and environment officials are also bound to clamp down on illegal dumping, mining and logging.

The population of the Anas luzonica ducks is thought have been falling since a count by the Asian Waterbird census in 2005 put it at 4,428.

The Philippine Duck is listed as vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's list of threatened species.